How to Play Online Texas Hold'Em for Newbies

There are MANY common mistakes that people make when first attempting to master this game. Typically, a new player looks at online play as a chance to make money from other newbies, unfortunately this is not a safe assumption. As a general rule, playing online is, if anything, MORE difficult than playing a live game, for the simple fact that you cannot physically observe the other players. If someone is bluffing you ONLINE, unless you have studied every hand they have played for some time, you may not be willing to accept that they have you beat. Rule #1 In HoldEm is *Don't be married to the pot...* This means, is you have even the slightest gut feeling that you might not be able to take it down, GET OUT. Regardless of how much you're in for. This rule applies to HoldEm live as well as online.

The following is some great advice that I have learned the hard way. I'm certainly no expert, so these tips are intended for the pre-average player. These typical mistakes can send you off on a tilt in no time, so, having done the *research* for you, I will let you in on the most common HoldEm fails.

1. Never, ever, ever ignore another player's betting pattern. A raise could be a bluff, sure...but pay attention to how much they are betting. The *call anything* mentality only works if you are SURE. And with 2 hole cards, ABSOLUTE WIN is actually pretty rare. A person betting the Big Blind ONLY is less likely to have a killer hand than the person raising the Big Blind every card.

2. Straight and Flush Chasing. If you are Chip drunk, this is a FAST way to finish last. The higher your chip count, the more you can afford to test your luck. But, remember that from time to time, calling someone's all-in when you think you have the only straight or flush could likely result in the other player having the higher straight or flush. Unless you have that Ace, in both situations, seriously consider what your high card is.

3. The Full House Curse. It is surprisingly difficult to pick off a Full House in Hold Em. Even with 2 pair on the table, you will find yourself trying to figure out if you have the highest pocket pair, bad move. With 2 pair on the table, especially if there are more than 2 players, there is a pretty decent chance someone made that tray. So, unless everyone if betting low/checking, watch yourself, it's a common trap.

4. Intermediate players are experts at the Check Bluff. I am familiar with this strategy now, and use it often against new players. So, you have a hand you're pretty sure you won? Instead of the typical raise, checking is a bit more likely to draw an All-In out of someone with a pair/2 pair. If, after your post flop check your opposing player raises, keep checking. Call/Check. Most newbs see this as a sign of a *Limp In* hand. Let them believe that. Again, this play is for hands that are close to guaranteed wins.

5. A full table is 100% different than Heads Up. Obviously, with 2 players, certain hands (flushes, straights, full houses) are almost a sure win. However, with 3, 4, 5 players betting on the same 5 cards, consider that someone has something, and that something could very well take you out.

6. Tournaments are the opposite of hand for hand. Your objective is to STAY IN. There will only be a few winners, in some cases, only one. Don't allow yourself to be taken out on a crap hand. All-In is All-In...if you lose to someone with more chips, you're out, period. As long as you have a chip and a chair in a tournament, you have a shot.

7. Don't underestimate the *Power of the Button*. Big Blind can be rough sometimes, but assuming that all the other players know you're only in because you were forced to be in is a huge mistake. When I get crap cards on a BB, I like to raise, (unless someone else already has), because the other players will naturally assume that you have something worth playing. Then watch for a re-raise. If it doesn't show up, keep betting as long as you can get away with it. Now, surely, you know that if you have a high card of 4, don't keep betting it out. But, if your opposing players are checking and betting low, this is an excellent spot to be in for practice bluffing.

8. FOLDING IS A STRONG PLAY. If you don't have anything, and you're tempted to just keep betting to see what happens, well, you'll find out what happens. It is far better to lose a big pot than to be taken out on a small one. If you are looking for you pair of nines to pull out on a board with a Jack and a Queen...you are looking for something that will probably not happen. Taking that chance is generally a big mistake.

9. The King Rule. If you have a King in your pocket, and another King shows up on the board, if there is an Ace on that board, your Kings are as good as a pair of of twos.

10. The Ace rule. A pocket Ace -Three will lose to an Ace -Four EVERY TIME. Again, this is a situation where you need to watch the bets.

11. Suited Connectors. This is a strong pocket, however, use your head. Math skills to be frank, the probability of you pulling out a straight flush is VERY low. A Five-Seven of diamonds may be great if you are in the number one spot, but more than likely, a hand like this will have you losing to a pair of nines.

12. High Pair on the Board. This is great on the flop, not so great on the river. That high pair could very possibly lead you into betting high against a low tray.

13. The All-In EVERY Hand player. Beware of this douche, for every time you are SURE he/she is bluffing AGAIN, they aren't. It's total drama, keep you head straight and let someone else take them out. Poker is about control, and the second you let a tilt get you, you're as good as gone. Ignore the douche's antics and someone else will make them go away, this is ASSURED.

14. The SUPER awesome Hole Cards with the BAD flop. Get OUT. Period. You get a pair of Aces, the flop is 4, 8, 10 of a suit you don't have? Unless it's free, or you're heads up, GET OUT. Checking is the only move here. Instincts are one thing, stupidity is another. See what happens, All-In on 2 Aces has done me wrong too many times. Especially on a pre-flop All-In.

15. *Special Hands*. I have two special hands that I simply adore. Going All-In on my special lucky hands has gotten me some awesome pots, and equally some lame losing showdowns. Check or low-bet your *lucky* hands. See where the cards go.

The world of online poker is a strange and fascinating place. For the newb, the best bet is playing in alot of free tournaments and play money games. Hopefully my advice has helped, and on that note, the most important advice I can give is to disable chat messages during play. Shit-talkers are common, and generally, they serve their purpose. Their objective is to anger someone, anyone into a Tilt, thereby bettering their chances of an epic screw up. Keep chat off and you will not be subjected to the antagonism intended to cause your playing badly.

Good luck out there!